Type-writing machine.



B. W, TUCKER. ma Wannes msnm,

APPLICATION FELED MAY 1. HHK Lm., hmmm sept. 17, 19181,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

B. W. TUCKER. TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION man MAY 1, 191e.

Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

3 sHEET-s-sHEET s1 .an 'er Bllll'lili'll W. TUCKER, 0F SGUTH QPNANGE, NEXV JERSEY, ASSIG-NOR TO CORONA TYiEiJ'ER MANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPE-WRITING Meoiiinn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lateiited Sept. il?, gl.

Application led May 1, 1916. Serial No. 94,660.

L machine, in which the main frame has relatively movable parte to adapt the machine to he collapsed when not in use.

@ne of the principal objects of the invention is to provide asiinple and efficient writing in aehine wherein the pla-ten carriage and its associated parts may he mounted upon one main l' aine part and the type action "upon another main `liraine part, and the said parts relatively movable in a vertical direction only, whereby the machine m515y he collapsed to materially reduce its height and move the parte from a normal operative poeition to a more compact and inoperative one.

Another object. o't' the invention is to provide a. frame construction 'or a collapsible typewrting machine wherein the `mechanisms are so mounted that either a type segment ehitt. or a platen case shift may loe eniployed.

@ther objects of the invention are to provide simple means whereby the' platen cal'- riage and its associated parte including :the universal har may he all mounted upon a veiticallyv niovahle traine part and` in a vertical plane only to adapt the platen carriage to he located at the rear oi the type bars and the rihhon n chanism loca-ted directly aloove and at one side of the typediars when the parte are in a compact position read)- 'ol."

translort-ation purposes; to provide simple means wlierelovv the frame parte ma): he positivoliy held in a normal og'ez'ative position or in a compact position; and to provide simple means for mountinga universal har in position to he engaged by the type-hars duringthe printing movement thereof, and the said universal bar adapted to operate escapement mechanism and ribbon mechanism.

it jrurther object of the invention is to provide a writing machine ot' a visible typeI wherein the platen carriage and the associated parts including the universal oar has a complete break connection with the type action and Spacing mechanism in the normal operative and inoperative positions, and which platen carriage and the associated parts, including the universal har are adapted to be moved to an inope'ative compactI position relative to the type action.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine which is simple in construction and may be readily made and seinhled.

Nit-h these and other objects in view, the

- invention will he hereinafter more particularlydescrihed with reference to the accompanying drawings, which iorm a part of this :ipplicatioii, and will then be pointed o ut in the claiinrs` at the end ot' the description.

In the drawings, Figure l. is a plan view, partly broken away, of one form of machine embodying` the invention, showing the parts in a normal opera-tive position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal Section from front to rear oi" the machine, taken on the line ll llY oi? Fig. l.

Fig'. Il is a Side elevation of the machine, showing` the parte in a collapsed condition. i

Fig'. Llis a. vertical section showing the mounting` for the rihlion spools and for the relatively movable parts of the machine frame, the sect-ion being taken on the line .lV-lV of Fig` Fig. 5 is a fragmentary eide elevation of theAV parts shown in Fig'. Ll.

Fig. G is a section similar to liig. Ll, except that the ribbon epochl have been nioved to a compact position.

Fig 7 is a fragmentary perspective view, showingv the construction and mount-ing for the universal har.

Fig. 8 is a vertical lonv'itudinal section, partly in elevation, showing a case shift mechanism adapted to ehift the platen instead or the typehaskeh as shown in the other iigures. i i

Fig. 9 is a. plan view of one Side oi the machine with the carriage removed, showing the construction oi' the iframe and mechanism whereby the platen carriage and the supporting frame part therefor may be raised or lowered or shifted; and

Figi'. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing' the type action and parts of the mainner ends with a 15 which at their forward portions may be `connected by a substantially L-shaped transversely extending bar 16, either separate therefrom or formed integral therewith as a single casting, as preferred, and on the said base member or part 11 are the usual rubber feet 17. A transversely extending bar 1S is held between the sides 15 of the base frame part 11, and held to said transversely extending bar are pivot rods 19. T he transversely extendino' bar 18 is slotted transversely along the upper and lower edges thereof, and pivotally held on the rods 19 and within the slots of said bai- 1S are levers 2() and 21. rl`lie levers 2O and 21 are airanged in pairs, and each pair of said levers at the forward ends are pivotally held to a part 22 of a key-lever rlrhe key-levers 23 are arranged in banks or groups and fornr a vstandard or universal keyboard, and have the upper portions of one. bank extending in an opposite direction to those of another bank. Ais shown there are three banks of key-levers each having a key 2l. The intermediate key-levers are substantially vertical, while the upper portions of the levers of' one of the banks extend upwardly and forwardly, and the upper portions of the other bank of key-levers' extend upwardly and rearwardly, and by reason of their arrangement and connection with the levers 2O and 21 a substantially uniform touch is provided. The keys of the different banks are arranged at relatively different heights for ready operation, as is usual in typewriting machines, and each key-lever is adapted to be restored. and held in its normal position by means of a spring 25 one end of which is held to the transversely extending bar 16` and the other 'end to an varm of the lower lever 21. The levers 20 and 21 are connected in pairs at their innerends by .links 26, and these links are each 'connected by a rod or link 27 to en aim- 28 of a type-bar 29. rEhe type-bars 29 are pivoted at their-"inner ends to api'vot rod 30, which is held to a type segment 31. The type-bars aref. each provided at their ing according to whether the machine has a single case shift or a double case shift. In the present instance the machine is constructed-'with a double case shift' and each type-bar is therefore provided with three types; .one representing the other the lower case, and the third figures or other characters. If one of the keys is depressed the lever 23 thereof will operate plurality of type 82, varyuupper ease, an* f of the machine.

sides of the machine are released by means of 10Q Laramie the horizontally arranged levers 20 and 21, and through the links 2G and 27 will move the type-bar 29 onits pivot rod 30 to force the type upwardly and rearwardly to make an impression on platen The frame part 12 on which the platen carriage 13 is mounted is held to have a vertical movement relative to the frame part 11 to adapt the platen carriage to be 75 placed iii a normal operative position ,or `in a compact and inoperative position.y The frame part 12 has side plates 33 which are connected together at the rear portion thereof by a carriage carriage 13 is adapted to travel. At, the forward edge the side plates 12 have an outwardly turned portion which is adapted to move verticallyl in a similarly formed groove 3G, located in of each of the side plates 15 of the base or frame part 11. llach offset portion 37 isprovided with a vertical slot 3S `arranged parallel to the grooves 3G and extending through each slot 3S is a screw or bolt 39. ne

The screws or bolts 39 each have threadedinner ends to engage a threaded aperture in the side plates 33 of the frame part 12 aiid each screw or bolt is provided with a guide collar #l0 and l1 at its outer end. The collar 40 is adapted to move and be guided in an enlarged pori tion 42 of the vertical slot 38 at each side lf the screws on the opposite the heads 4&1, the frame part 12 may be raised or lowered according to whether the machine is to be placed in an operative position or in a compact position, and by tightening the screws these parts may be ieg. held in sucn compact or operative posit-ions. By this means a simple and effective frame Construction is provided whereby the platen carriage may be mounted upon one frame part and the type action on another frame 11a part, and the machine collapsed without disconnecting any parts of the operating mechanism.

In Figs. 1 to 7 the .type Segment is adapted to be raised or lowered with the type-hais ile for case shift purposes and said segment 31 is mounted upon a. slnft frame @(3. This frame has forwardly extending bars 44: to y which the type basket etais held, the latter forming; a rest for the forwardends of the 12o arms 6 and 4:7 are of the machine. their inner ends their outer ends type-bars.v rwo pairs of located on opposite sides The ariiis 4:6 are pivoted at to the shift frame 43, and at are pvoted oase 11, while the lower arms #i7 are pivot-- ally held at their inner ends to the shift frame, and at their forward ends are held to a transversely extending rod i8. One of.

the arms 47 forms a part of a bell-crank 49. 130

the work sheet about the 7o bed 3% along which the 'so an .offset portion 3T at a kiiiirled or other head to the sides or plates 15 of the 125 Levante At the upper end of. the arm -l9 oli' Said bell.- cranlc is a roll 50, and said roll enters slots 5l and 52 ot shift levers 53 and 54e respectively. The shift levers 53 and 5l each have a key formingl a part of the keyboard, said levers bei ng pivoted at their i11- ner ends to an inwardly extending lng 5G. The slots 5l and ot thelevers extend in op positie directions and intersect and in their normal position serve to lock the type segment in its normal position. lt' one ot' the shift levers is depressed, as the levei.l 53 tor exaniple. this will cause the slot 5l. to force the roll 5() rearwardly, and this wil'l causo the bell-crankv -l-S to lower the type segment relative to the platen le. lt the shi't't lever 5% is depressed the slot 52 thercotl will torce the roll forwardly and this will elevate the type segmentk thus giving two shift positional of the type segment. one above and the other below the normal position thereof. A spring 57 is adapted to restore and hold each shift lever in its normal position7 and one or inore springs at each side of the inachine may be employed to hold the type segment and frame in their normal position and a means to connterlmlance the weight thereof.

On. the frame part l2 are mounted the associated pa rts for the platen carriage. 'lhese parts a'e substantially the sanne, except as to their mounting' and :relation to other parts, asin the Corona typewriter, and neither theseparts nor the type action or ease shift are\clai1ned specifically herein, but only broadly in theirl different relations and mountings. The platen carriage is provided with a base 59 having aiiti-lrietion rolls 50 along' one end tl1creol,"and at the forward edge oit' Said base is a traclif 6l ha ving' antifric-tion` or other `devices which serve to guide the carriage irrits transverse travel along the bed .g5-tender the tension ot' aspring.;` drum or otheimotor. as usual in typewriting machines The carriage may be provided with a' paper apron (32 and mounted in the paper apron 'may be one or more pressure rolls 623 and at the forward edge thereof a suitable. scale (il. The platen may be prmided with a knob (5.7 at one end and line spaing' mechanism (nl at its other end. whereby the said platen niay be rotated in the usual way. laper lingers (T17 may be held to be adjusted lengthwise o't' the platen, and there may be provided means, as guides 67El for alining' theI type at the printing point.

Suitable ribbon mechanism is mounted upon the trame part Vl': 'lhis mechanism may include means 'lor l'eedii'ig the rib'oon ei'ig'thwise, means for vibrating' the ribbon, and also means tor reversingv the direction. of feed ol the ribbon, though in the drawingrs only the mechanism t'or 1feeding thc ribbon lengthwise is shown. The ribbon spools 68 are rotatably held upon sha'tts Gf), and at the upper ends ot' each shal't. is a` nut T4) by which each spool may be held to rotate with the shaft or to rotate imlependently thereof, as desired. lach shaft (il) is provided with a worm `wheel 7l and engaging each worm wheel is a worm 72. The worm 72 is held to a shaft and on the outer end ot each worm shaft is a toothed or ratchet wheel "(25 which is adapted to be engaged by a pawl T-l. rl`l1e pawl 74 is mounted upon a reciproratory y universal bar 75, and as the bar 75 reciprocates, asv will be presentlv described. a stepby-step rotary movement will be imparted to the worms and said worms will rotate the worm wheels and their sha l'ts nl). and whichever spool is held or locked by its nut to one oli the shafts, thus the ribbon may be fed from one side ot the machine to the other in either direction, according to which nut T() is tightened and the other loose.

'the universal bar T5 is mounted to reciprocate back and Jr'orth on the main trame part l2, and has a downwardly extending' flange 7() at the torwa rd edge thcreotv` which is adapted to be engaged by a part 77 oli each type-bar during' the printing movement thereof. The universal bar has :111;j11h1remls 75, Figs. 1 and 7, on which are lug-s, and these lugs are pivotally held to parallel a1'- rangred arms 7S at each side ot` the machine, said arms To being' pivotally held to the sides V33 ot said trameI part 12. The universa] bar may be forced in one direction by a spring ilf desired, against the action ot the type-bars and the ends thereol' may be provided with ay tappet 7!) which is adapted to engage the upturncd end S() ot a dog carrier 8l. rl`he dogr` carrier Sl may be provided wilh the usual limber and tixed dogs and is adapted to engage a rack on the rarria-gre to control the letter space movement ther-cot, as in the Corona typewriter, though the construction ot' the csoapement mechanism may be varied as desired. The. 1miversal bar is thus movable with the `t'rame part l2 l'rom its normal position to a compact and inoperative one, or vice versa` and is adapted not only to operate the escapement mechanism, but also the ribbon mechaynism` including' the ribbon vibrator.

'lhc universal bar ma)1 be operated Vto trip (he escapement without operating the type-hars or printing instrumentalities. space bar is suitably mounted on tho transversely extending' bar 1S and may he connected by a link S3, lever Sl, and rod or link ST1 to a space lever 85u. shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3. rlhc space lever is pivotally held to lie normally alongside ot one ot the type-bars, and may be substantially the same in construction as one ol the type-bars except that it is shorte' and t'ree of type, and so arranged that when the space bar 82 is depressed the space lever may izo Figs. S to 10 show a collapsible machine of somewhat the same character shown in the other figures, except that the parts are changed to adapt the platen carriage for case shift instead of the type segment shift, as in the said other figures. As shown there is a base or main frame part SG, and vertically movable. with respect to the frame part SG is another main frame part S7. The main frame part ST itself comprises relatively movable parts SS and S9. The part .S8 has sideplates ormembers 00 which are connected together by the transversely extending carriage bed 91 along which the carriage 9i). is adapted to travel, said carriage being provided with a` platen 93 of the usu'al or of any preferred construction. The si-:le'plates at the forward .portion thereof are each provided with an iiiturned part 911, and said inturned part is adapted to be vertically adjustable in a groove 95 in the part 80. The part S9 at each. side of the machine is provided with a vertical slot 96 through each of which extends a shank or stem 9T of a bolt 9S. Each bolt or screw 98 has its inner end threaded to engage a threaded aperture in one of the side plates 00, and each screw or bolt is provided with a milled head 99 by which the -screw may be released or tightened. By releasing the screws the parts 8S may be relatively adjusted with respect to the parts 89, and the parts as thus ad justed iii/ay be held by means of the screws 9S. This permits the carriage and the part 8S on which the carriage is'mounted together with such other mechanism as may be'niounted upon the part 8S, to be moved from a normal operative position to a compact and inoperative one with respect to the part or parts 89 and the base 8G.

The parts 88 and S9 while relativelyv movable are together movable for case shift purposes on the base member 86. At the forward vertical edge of each part or member 89 is a dove-tail groove 100 which is engaged by a tongue or portion 101 at the rear vertical edge of each of the side plates 10Q of the frame part 86. The tongue and groove connection and 101 properly hold the frame parts together and permit theframe part 87 to be elevated or lowered for. shift purposes. Toshift the platen Ato adapt the type-bars to have a plurality of characters thereon, a shift mechanism 102 somewhat similar to that already described is employed. The shift mechanism has two shift levers 103 and 101 and both shift levers are pivoted at their inner ends' to an eXtension 105 on one of the side plates 10:2 of the frame base.. These levers each have a key 106 at their outer ends and 'intermediate carried upon an arm v*slotted to engage the stud of a -more springs," not their ends have upwardly 107 and 108 respectively. The parts 10"l and v108 are hook-shaped to provide curved slots oi portions 109 in the part 10Ey and 110 in the part 108. The slotted portions extend in opposite directions, the other rearwardly, and entering said slotted portions is a roll 111. The roll 111 is 11?J of a bell-crank lever 113 and this lever is secured to a shaft 114. There may be an arm 113 at the opposite 'side of the machine to'balance the shift the arm 113 or frame and the rear vend of each arm thereof, if more than one, may be pin or bolt If the lever 103 is depressed the roll 111 will be forced rearwardly and this willL lower the frame part S7 to which the arms 113 are connected, while if the lever 10s is depressed, as shown in Fig. 8, the frame part STwith the platen carriage will be ele'- vate'd. The shift levers may be restored to their normal position by means of springs 116 or otherwise, and there may be one or shown, for eounterbalancing the weight of the frame part S7 and the parts mounted thereon. The'nornial position of the platen carriage is for the center type or character on the type-bar and in one shift movement the platen .carriage is lowered from the normal4 position and in the other case shift movement it is raised'from the normal position. construction of the parts, including the type action, ribbon mechanism, and

stantially the saine as shown in the other figures.

1t will be evident from the foregoing that a simple and efficient collapsible typewriting machine is provided in which either a platen shift or type segment shift may be employed; that the main frameis so cnstructed that the vertical collapsing or extension movement of the frame part is in a vertical direction without extending the movable frame part to the forward portion of the base member; and that while a construction is shown wherein the frame part with the carriage mounted thereon has a verti'cal direct movement only, it will loe understood that where the platen is shifted the construction may be such as to move iii a different direction from that of simply a vertical plane. y

Having thus described myy invention, claim as new and desire to securev by Letters Patent 1. 1n typewriting mathine the ccnil'iina tion of a main frame having one part vertically slidable relatively to` another part, a platen carriage, escapement mechanism, ribbon mechanisnn all mounted upon saif vertically slidable frame extending portions escapement mechanism, as well as the mounting of the l universal bar and the action thereof 1s sub-y part, a keyboard 1 one forwardly and Except as described, the

y the rear part ot the means `for locking the rear remplie mounted upon the other part of the frame, and means for imparting' a ease shift movement to the platen carriage.

2. ln a typewritiilg machine the combination ot a transversely divided main trame comprisingY a stationary forward part and a relatively movable rearpart held to said forward part to slide vertically at the rear thereol', a platen carriage supported on said vert ieally slidable part, a key action and type segmentV mounted on said statiomiry part, ribbon spools mounted on said verticall y slidable part above and on opposite sides ot the type. segment, and a universal bar mounted on said vertically slidable part above and at the rear of the type segment, said platen carriage and universal bar beinn movable. downwardly at the rear ol the type segment and said ribbon spools being` movable downwardly at opposite sides ot the type segment, when the vertically slidable frame part is moved downwardly lo compact the machine.

Il. in a typewriting mai-bine the eombination of a base 'trame part, a keyboard and type. action thereon, a second Atrame part comprising members movable relatively to each other and to said base l'rame part, a platen carriage supported on one ot' said members, connections between said inembers ot' the second frame part whereby the platen Carriage will be maintained in an upright position when its ber is shifted to move, the platen carriage lirom its normal opera tive position to a more compact inoperative position, and means l'or moving` the members ot said partl in unison relatively to the base t'rame part for the platen carriage.

4. ln a typewriting machine the combination of a main frame divided vertically transversely ot' the maehine,a l iyl'zoard and ty pe action mounted on the forward part ot' the frame, a platen carriage supported on trame and movable therewith vertically from a normal elevated operative position downwardly to a point at the rear of the type action, cooperating' relatively slidable means carried by said lrame parts t'or maintain'ing` the platen carriage in an upright position at all times, and part of said trame in its elevated position.

5. In a typeavriting machine the combination oi a main frame divided vertically transversely ot the machine7 a keyboard and type action mounted on the t'orward part of the l'rame, a platen carriage, ribbon meeh anism, eseapenient mechanism, and a universal bar, operable by the type bars all supported on the r lar part of the trame and movable therewith from a normal elevated operative position downwardly to a lower inoperative position relatively to the type bars supporting mem-l secoml `t'ramoimparting a case shift movement to and cooperating relatively slidable .means Carried by said frame parts ttor maintaining the platen carriage and its associated parts in an upright position at all times.

(i. Yln a typewriting machine the combina,- tion oi a. main traine divided transversely of the machine, ay keyboard and type action mounted on the forward part ofthe trame, a platen carriage supported on the rear part of the `t'rame and movable therewith from a normal elevated operative position downwardly to a point at the rear ot' the type act-ion, eoperatiim` slidably interloeked means carried by said iframe parts for maintaining' the platen carriage in an upright position at' all times, and key-operated means supported on the Vt'orward part of said 'lrame tor imparting' a case shit't movement to the platen carriage.

i'. In a typewritinn' machine the emnbination of a main t'rame having vertically arranged relatively slidable. parts, 'a platen carriage. eseapement mechanism, ribbon instrumentalities? all mounted upon one part ol said Vtrame and movable downwardly therewith while upright to reduce the height ot' the machine, a lteyboard mounted on another part olI said main l'ranie. a type bar lior each l\'e adapted to be located l'orward of the carriage. when the parts are moved to compact position. and means t'or imparting a rase shitt movement. to the platen.

8. .ln ay typewriting machine the combina.- tion ot a main trame, having` two parts slidably held tonjetherand movable relatively to each other to reduce the eubieal dimensions ol the machine, one ot said parts beinf,r normally statii'inary and the other comprising' membersI movable relatively with respect to each other and to the stationary frame, a keyboard and type bars mounted upon the stationary part of the frame, a platen earriage and ribbon instrumentalities mounted upon one member ofthe movable frame part and movable with said member from a normal operative position to a more compact inoperative position, and means for shitting both members of the movable frame part for imparting a ease shit't niovement to the platen carriage.

9. ln a typewriting machine the combination ot' a base tran-ie part, a' keyboard and type bars mounted upon said base frame part, a main frame part comprising relatively slidable .members to adapt saitl frame part to be extended vertically in a normal operative position and to be collapsed downwardly to reduce the 'height ot the machine, a platen carriage mounted upon one member of said main frame part, means for slidably holding the other member of the main frame Y part to the base frame part, and means for bodily moving Said main frame part relatively to the base frame part for imparting a ease shift movement 'to the platen carriage.

sition to reduce the lieie'ht of the machine,-

a l a platen carriage mounted on said slidable frame part, a keyboard and 'type action mounted on said stationary frame part, and case shift means supported on said stationary frame part for imparting, a vertical case shift movement to the platen carriage and its supporting frame part.

11. Ina typewriting machine the combination of a three-part main frame comprisinga. forward part, a keyboard and type action mounted on said forward frame part, an intermediate vertically movable frame part, a shift key and connections mounted on said forward frame part for imparting a vertical case shift movement te said intermediate frame part, a rear frame part held to said intermediate fran'ie part, a platen carriage mounted on said rear frame part, said rear f ame part being,` movable vertically at the rea-r of the type action from a normal elevated operative position to a lower inoperative lposition to reduce the height of the machine, and means for maintaining the platen carriage in an upright position during the compacting movement thereof.

l2. In a typewriting machine, a main frame part, a key action and type bars mounted on said main frame part, a second relatively movable main frame part., a platen carriage mounted on said second frame part more vertically downwardly the rear of the type action,

and having a vertical case shift movement and an abnormal vertical compacting movement at the rear of the type bars, and means for maintaining the platen carriage in an upright position at all times. l

123. In a typewriting machine the combination of a main frame divided vertically transversely of the machine, a keyboard and type action mounted on the forward part of the fame, a platen carriage supported on the rear part of the frame and movable therewith vertically from a normal elevated operative position downwardly to a point 'at means for maintaining the platen .carriage in an upright position during the movement thereof toward and from its normal position, and

means for lockimb)` the rear frame part in its elevated and lowered positions.

lef. In a .typewriting machine the combination ot' a divided main frame con'iprising a forward part and a relatively movable rear part7 a keyboard mounted on said forward frame part, a platen carriage supported on said rear frame part and movable therewith from a normal elevated operative position downwardly to a more compact inoperative position7 sliding connections between said frame parts for maintainingthe platen carriage in an upright position during the movement thereof toward and from its compact position, and means for imparting a case shift movement to the platen cariage. v

'lnis specicat-ion signed this twentyninth day of April A. D. 1916.

BENJAMIN W. TUCKER. 

